• Digital Battlespace

  Dubai 2013: Challenger 605 chosen for Boeing’s MSA

  18th November 2013

  Boeing has selected the Bombardier Challenger 605 business jet as the base platform for its Maritime Surveillance Aircraft (MSA) programme, after announcing the partnership at …

• Digital Battlespace

  Indian Navy receives 2nd P-8I Maritime Patrol Aircraft

  18th November 2013

  The Indian Navy has received a new P-8I aircraft from Boeing – the second of eight long-range maritime reconnaissance and anti-submarine warfare aircraft being delivered …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  Saab's Skeldar UAS finds its wings

  15th November 2013

  Saab's Skeldar UAV has entered operational service on the BAM Meteoro offshore patrol vessel in support of the Spanish Navy. The system is providing surveillance …

• Defence Helicopter

  Boeing delivers first upgraded Apache to the Netherlands

  15th November 2013

  The first Dutch AH-64D Apache upgraded to Block II standard was accepted by the Dutch Defence Materiel Organisation (DMO) at Mesa, Arizona on 14 November. …

• Defence Helicopter

  First NH90 Step B helicopter delivered to Italian Navy

  12th November 2013

  The Italian navy has taken delivery of the first NH90 NATO Frigate Helicopter (NFH) Step B from NHIndustries. The helicopter, delivered on 8 November, will …

• Defence Helicopter

  Norway selects AW101 for SAR requirement

  8th November 2013

  Norway has decided to commence ‘final negotiations’ with AgustaWestland for the delivery of new SAR helicopters to replace its fleet of ageing Sea Kings, it …

• Digital Battlespace

  Dutch armed forces receive multi-sensor systems

  8th November 2013

  FLIR Systems has started deliveries of its Recon B2-FO multi-sensor system to the Dutch Defence Materiel Organisation (DMO). Beating Sagem’s JIM LR multifunction cooled infrared …

• Land Warfare

  Thailand accepts first Oplot tanks

  8th November 2013

  Thailand completed the technical acceptance of 49 Oplot main battle tanks on 5 November. Manufactured by the Kharkiv Morozov Machine Building Design Bureau (KMDB) in …

• Land Warfare

  D&S 2013: Black Widow lacks bite

  7th November 2013

  Thailand’s Defence Technology Institute (DTI) has said it will work with UK-based Ricardo on the next phase of development of its Black Widow Spider 8x8 …

• Naval Warfare

  New OPVs for UK Royal Navy amid restructuring

  7th November 2013

  Three new offshore patrol vessels (OPVs) will be ordered by the UK MoD to plug the gap in construction work at BAE Systems’ shipbuilding facilities …

• Naval Warfare

  Northrop Grumman wins US Navy AN/SPQ-9B radar award

  7th November 2013

  Northrop Grumman will supply AN/SPQ-9B radar systems for the US Navy’s amphibious and Arleigh Burke class ships under a contract award worth $20.4 million. The …

• Defence Helicopter

  Philippine Air Force selects AW109 Power helicopters

  7th November 2013

  AgustaWestland will supply eight AW109 Power light twin-engine helicopters to the Philippine Air Force under a contract announced on 6 November. The aircraft will be …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  Triton UAV wings demonstrate strength capabilities

  6th November 2013

  The structural strength of the wings for the US Navy’s MQ-4C Triton unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) has been shown to exceed the navy’s requirements in …

• Digital Battlespace

  UK outlines future SATCOM vision

  5th November 2013

  The UK MoD has described how implementing its next-generation capability strategy for satellite communications (SATCOM) will be affected by difficult budget restrictions. Addressing the Global …

• Land Warfare

  D&S 2013: Chaiseri unveils new 4x4 prototype

  5th November 2013

  Thailand-based Chaiseri is exhibiting its newest 4x4 armoured vehicle for the first time at Defence & Security in Bangkok. General manager, Kan Koolhiran, told Shephard …

Programme Results - Defence Insight

• Loitering munitions

  Loitering Munition PODS [UK]

  Background PODS As the Royal Navy stated in 2022, Persistent Operational Deployment Systems (PODS) are  “interchangeable modules that can be fitted to the surface fleet. ...

• Military UAS - rotary-wing, Military UAS - small

  T-150 (Royal Navy) [UK]

  Background Deployment On 7 April 2025, the Royal Navy announced that, for the first time, nine T-150 drones would be operated from the HMS Prince ...

• Military UAS - rotary-wing, Military UAS - tactical

  Flexible Tactical Uncrewed Air System (FTUAS) [UK]

  Background Tender Notice & Timeline On 25 May 2021, the MoD published a tender notice for the urgent acquisition of a UAS and ancillaries under a ...

• Naval: Combat Management Systems

  Naval: Combat Management Systems | LMS Batch II (5-7) [Malaysia]

  The Royal Malaysia Navy (RMN) plans to acquire eight Littoral Mission Ships (LMS). In line with the plan, it was assumed the RMN would acquire ...

• Naval: shipboard communication systems

  Naval: shipboard communication systems | LMS Batch II (5-7) [Malaysia]

  The Royal Malaysia Navy (RMN) plans to acquire eight Littoral Mission Ships (LMS). In line with the plan, it was assumed the RMN would acquire ...

• Military UAS - fixed-wing, Military UAS - small

  Puma 3 AE (UK)

  Programme Background Testing The Royal Navy announced in October 2020 that the Puma was undergoing its first operational testing on HMS Albion's autumn deployment to ...

• Naval: Combat Management Systems

  Naval: Combat Management Systems | Submarines Procurement [Malaysia]

  According to the Royal Malaysian Navy 15 to 5 Transformation Plan, the Navy wants to acquire two more submarines between 2031 and 2035. Shephard estimates ...

• Naval: shipboard communication systems

  Naval: shipboard communication systems | Submarines Procurement [Malaysia]

  According to the Royal Malaysian Navy 15 to 5 Transformation Plan, the Navy wants to acquire two more submarines between 2031 and 2035. Shephard estimates ...

• Naval: Combat Management Systems

  Naval: Combat Management Systems | Joint Future Surface Combatant - FSC (3) [Belgium]

  The Belgian Navy and the Royal Netherlands Navy (RNLN) are undertaking a joint Future Surface Combatant (FSC) project to replace their existing M-class Karel Doorman-class ...

• Naval: shipboard communication systems

  Naval: shipboard communication systems | Joint Future Surface Combatant - FSC (3) [Belgium]

  The Belgian Navy and the Royal Netherlands Navy (RNLN) are undertaking a joint Future Surface Combatant (FSC) project to replace their existing M-class Karel Doorman-class ...

• Naval: Combat Management Systems

  Naval: Combat Management Systems | Multi-Role Support Ship (MRSS) (3) [Malaysia]

  According to the Royal Malaysian Navy 15 to 5 Transformation Plan, the Navy wants to acquire a total of three Multi-Role Support Ships (MRSSs). This ...

• Naval: shipboard communication systems

  Naval: shipboard communication systems | Multi-Role Support Ship (MRSS) (3) [Malaysia]

  According to the Royal Malaysian Navy 15 to 5 Transformation Plan, the Navy wants to acquire a total of three Multi-Role Support Ships (MRSSs). This ...

• Naval: Combat Management Systems

  Naval: Combat Management Systems | Offshore Patrol Vessels [Thailand]

  The Royal Thai Navy (RTN) is reportedly considering procuring four new offshore patrol vessels (OPVs). The RTN currently has two Krabi-class OPVs based on the Royal ...

• Naval: shipboard communication systems

  Naval: shipboard communication systems | Offshore Patrol Vessels [Thailand]

  The Royal Thai Navy (RTN) is reportedly considering procuring four new offshore patrol vessels (OPVs). The RTN currently has two Krabi-class OPVs based on the Royal ...

• Naval: Combat Management Systems

  Naval: Combat Management Systems | Joint Future Surface Combatant - FSC (3) [Netherlands]

  The Belgian Navy and the Royal Netherlands Navy (RNLN) are undertaking a joint Future Surface Combatant (FSC) project to replace their existing M-class Karel Doorman-class ...

Equipment Results - Defence Insight

• Submarine-launched torpedoes

  Mk 48 Mod 7AT CBASS

  The MK 48 MOD 7 Common Broadband Advanced Sonar System (CBASS) is the latest variant of the Mk 48 torpedo family manufactured by Lockheed Martin and ...

• Military - UUVs

  XV Excalibur

  XV Excalibur is an Extra Large Uncrewed Underwater Vehicle (XLUUV) built by UK-based MSubs, in conjunction with the Royal Navy. It is an experimental vessel ...

• AMAS

  AMAS – Australian Minesweeping System – was developed with the assistance of the Defence Science & Technology Organisation and the Royal Australian Navy. It adopts ...

• Frigates

  Hunter Class (Type 26)

  The Hunter-class frigates for the Royal Australian Navy are based on the Type 26 design. The ships are set to replace the Anzac-class under the ...

• Sea: naval fire control radar

  Ceros 200

  The Ceros 200 is a radar and optronic tracking system designed for use on naval vessels. When interfaced with modern missile or gun systems, it ...

• Frigates

  Naresuan Class

  The Naresuan-class guided-missile frigates are a modified variant of the Chinese-built Type 053 frigate. The two ships-in-class were built by the China State Shipbuilding Corporation ...

• Destroyers

  River Class (Type 26)

  The Type 26 Anti-Submarine Warfare frigate has been designed for the UK Royal Navy, but with an emphasis on export. Both the Royal Canadian Navy ...

• Air: helicopter flight simulators

  Royal Danish Navy MH-60R MOFT

  In January 2014, CAE was awarded an FMS contract by the USN to develop an MH-60R mission operational flight trainer (MOFT) for the Royal Danish ...

• Sea: naval surveillance radar

  AN/SPY-7(V)1

  The AN/SPY-7(V)1 is a solid-state naval surveillance radar produced and manufactured by Lockheed Martin. The system is expected to be fully integrated into programmes for ...

• Frigates

  Jacob Van Heemskerck Class

  The Jacob van Heemskerck class frigates were ex-Royal Netherlands Navy frigates that also served under the Chilean Navy, also known as the Latorre-class. Two anti-aircraft warfare (AAW) ...

• Land: battlefield and ground surveillance radar

  RD-170BT

  The RD-170BT is a man-portable surveillance radar deployed ashore to protect moored patrol boats of the Royal Norwegian Navy. 

• Military UAS - mini, Military UAS - rotary-wing

  Walrus

  The Walrus is a mini rotary-wing UAV manufactured by the Royal Navy's 700X Naval Air Squadron.  As stressed during the December 2022 announcement, Walrus has been ...

• Minehunters

  Sandown Class

  The Sandown class vessels are coastal minehunters and OPVs in service with the UK Royal Navy and Royal Saudi Naval Forces as the Al Jawf class. Additionally, ...

• Military - UUVs

  Mission Specialist Defender

  The Mission Specialist Defender is a remotely operated underwater vehicle (ROV) developed by VideoRay, now part of BlueHalo's unmanned maritime systems. The ROV is known ...

• Air-launched ASW torpedoes, Ship-launched torpedoes

  Sting Ray

  The Sting Ray Mod 1 is an air- and surface-launched, lightweight ASW torpedo. It can be deployed from frigates, helicopters and maritime patrol aircraft against ...